Varejao hoping for All-Star nod

The Cavaliers will find out Thursday night if Anderson Varejao has made the Eastern Conference All-Star team. It's not going to be easy for the 6-foot-11, 260-pound dynamo to earn a spot, but he's making a late push. In his last five games, he's averaging 15 points, 14.8 rebounds and 4.8 offensive rebounds.He recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Cavs' 99-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. It was also his fifth consecutive double-double. Varejao is fourth in the NBA in rebounds with 11.8 per game and first in offensive rebounds at 4.5."He's an animal," Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "We knew that coming in and he's just great. He's relentless. He's got a great nose for the ball and he just keeps coming. He's very active. I don't think we're the only team he's done it to."The only three players in the league are averaging more rebounds -- Orlando's Dwight Howard (15.1), Minnesota's Kevin Love (13.7) and Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum (12.0) -- and all will likely be playing in the All-Star game in Orlando's Amway Center on Feb. 26."Varejao is just a pain in the butt with his offensive rebounding, the way he knocks down shots and keeps (loose) balls alive," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "He's probably one of the more underrated players in the NBA with how much energy he gives this ball club... He has a knack of somehow coming up with the ball all the time. He's a major factor out there."He said the All-Star game is all anyone is talking to him about."I'm getting a lot of phone calls, text messages and emails," he said. "Everyone keeps asking me about it. At the same time, it's a good thing."He said he believes he is worthy of a spot on the All-Star team."My numbers are definitely better," Varejao said. "I'm playing more consistent minutes. It's showing in the stats. It would be a great thing for me to make it one time. It would mean a lot to me."